Kent State University recently celebrated one year of wellness-on-the-go. The Mobile Flashes program has been in motion since spring 2024, delivering healthcare services to underserved and rural communities throughout Northeast Ohio.
Led by Kent State’s College of Public Health, and funded by the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation, Mobile Flashes unites Kent State students, faculty and staff with community healthcare partners to expand access to care in rural areas and disadvantaged neighborhoods across Summit, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties.
A second Mobile Flashes student outreach program was added in 2024, focusing on the health and wellness of Northeast Ohio senior citizens, thanks to a grant from Medical Mutual of Ohio.
Since its inception, Mobile Flashes has participated in over 60 community events, engaging with more than 4,100 clients. Md Razib Rayhan, a graduate student in the College of Public Health and member of Mobile Flashes, knew he had to join the program after learning how much it helps the community.
“It felt like a way to use what I’m learning to make a difference for people who really need it,” Rayhan told Kent State Today.
Rayhan and Prikshit Bhargav, another graduate student in the College of Public Health and member of Mobile Flashes, have participated in events ranging from food pantries to health fairs, visiting hospitals, health departments and community centers. They have helped distribute food, perform health screenings and educate community members on topics like heart health and nutrition. They have interacted with older adults, instructing them on fall prevention and fraud risks, contributing to their overall wellness and reducing their social isolation.
“Public health isn’t always accessible, especially in underserved communities,” Bhargav said. “Sometimes we’re able to help just by offering basic education or screenings. Even that can make a big difference in someone’s life.”
Bhargav recalled an experience where he spoke to a woman at a health fair who had never heard of testing for coronary artery disease. After speaking with the Mobile Flashes team, she planned to visit her doctor.
“Just knowing we gave her information that might help her take action was a powerful moment for us,” Bhargav said.
Mobile Flashes partners with Kent State’s College of Nursing and the College of Education, Health and Human Services. Nursing students volunteer while audiology and speech pathology students provide hearing screenings and health education. Since its creation, more than 40 students have participated in Mobile Flashes, representing a variety of majors from public health and neuroscience to engineering.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to get real-world, hands-on experience while being mentored by our partnering agencies,” Sonia Alemagno, Ph.D., dean of the College of Public Health, said.
The program’s partners include University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, Portage County Health District, Summa Health and Kent City Health Department, as well as community organizations such as the Akron-Canton Food Bank and Axess Family Services.
The senior-focused Mobile Flashes efforts have taken students to 14 senior centers, made possible through the college’s partnership with the Northeast Ohio Senior Center Research Consortium.
Mobile Flashes’ partners have been essential to the program’s success. Mindy Gusz, BSN, RN, community outreach nurse at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, has been a key connector for Mobile Flashes.
“We have collaborated on many community events that support both of our outreach efforts to make our community healthy,” Gusz said. “The students are professional, kind and always eager to make a positive impact. I love seeing the blue-and-yellow van pull up to our events.”
Gusz emphasized that the program is unique compared to other public health initiatives.
“The collaboration and trust, along with sincere interest to help and support both our missions, make this program stand out,” Gusz said.
Steve Paciorek, Ph.D., director of the health and human services department for the city of Brecksville, hosted the Mobile Flashes team for multiple senior health and wellness events, including fall prevention bingo and scam presentations.
“This project exemplifies the value of intergenerational collaboration, providing students with real-world learning experiences while fostering meaningful relationships and improved outcomes for older adults,” Paciorek said.
According to Alemagno, the program continues to exceed expectations.
“Over the past year, I’ve been surprised at the overwhelming positive reaction from students, staff, faculty, partnering organizations and funders,” Alemagno said. “It’s a very positive and excellent example of how we take ‘Flashes take care of Flashes’ out to our communities across Northeast Ohio.”